Typewriter desk



April 2o, 1943. BALSTER A 2,316,756

TYPEWRITER DESK Filed Jan. 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 20, 1943.

A. BALSTER TYPEWRITER DESK Filed Jan. 16, 1941 sheets-Sheet 2 J0 E j 3 Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITEDV STATES PATENT v'o1-"Holi TYPEWRITER DESK Albert Balster, Chicago, lll., assignor to Irene Balster, Chicago, lll.

Application January 16, i941, Serial No. 374,675

3 claims. (ci. 31a-3o) The present invention relates generally to desks.- More particularly the invention relates to that type of desk that is primarily designed or adapted for use in an oflice or like establishy ment and has a comparatively large rectangular opening in the front central portion of the top and in addition has a typewriter platform which is disposed beneath the opening and ris pivoted at, the sides thereof so that it may .be swung bodily back and forth between an inoperative position wherein it is tilted rearwards and down-l wards and supports the typewriter wholly beneath the desk top, and an operative position wherein it extends substantially horizontally and supports the typewriter so that it projects through the opening and is accessible for use by an operator stationed or seated in front of the' desk.

One object of the invention is to provide a typewriterdesk of this type which is generally an improvement upon, and has'certain advantages over, previously designed desks of the same general character.

Another object'of the invention is to provide a desk of the. type and character under consideration in which the mounting for the typewriter platform embodies anextremely small number of parts and is so 'designed and arranged that the user of the desk has a maximum amount of knee space or leg room under the platform regardless of whether the platform is inits inoperative or operative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a typewriter desk of the aforementioned type in which the mounting for the platform includes a pair of coil springs which are associated v with the pivot means at the sides of the platform respectively and are so tensioned or loaded that they substantially balance the platform and typewriter and hence make it possible for the latter to be readily shifted or tilted back and forth into their inoperative and operative positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a typewriter desk which is generally of Anew and improvedv construction and not only may beCmanufactui-ed at a low and reasonable cost but also is characterized by the fact that it is both durable and practical. s

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.l

In the drawings which accompany and form A a part of this speciiicationvor disclosure and in which like numerals o f reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

1 is a front perspective view of a typewriter desk embodying the invention, the platform and top cover being shown in their closed positions; A

Figure 2 is a front view of the desk;

Figure 3 is a vertical vtransverse section showing the platform in its operative position and the cover in 'its open position;

`Figure 4 is a like section illustrating the platform and cover in their closed positions;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustratingdn detail the construction and arrangement of the coilsprings which are associated with-the platform pivot means and serve to balance the platform and typewriter so that 'they may be readily swung into their inopera- .25 ure 5; and

Figure 7 is 4an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating the manner in which the typewriter is secured to the platform.

The desk which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is'designed for use by typists in an oiiice or other establishment and comprises a top 8,' a pair of outer side walls 9; a pair of inner side walls I0, a back wall Il, a plurality of legs I2, Preferably such parts-are The top 8 is rectangular. It is supported by. the legs 4 2 in elevated position with respect to the oor on which the desk rests, and has in the front central portion thereofv an opening I4. The latter is rectangular and leads from the front margin of the top 8 to a point slightly inwards or forwards of the back margin. .The outer sidewalls 9 are connected to and depend from the side margins of the top and together With'the inner side Walls I0. define open front compartments for slide type drawers l5. The inner side walls l0 are located at the sides of the opening Il in the top 8 and typewriter desk will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are fare secured to and depend from the marginal 50.

portions of the top that define the sides of said opening.' They are the same insize as, and are positioned in parallel relation with, the .outer i side walls 9 and carry the platform mounting means'as hereinafter described. The back wall l I is secured to and depends from the rear margins of thetop 8 and extends between the rear margins of the outer side walls 9. Thelegs I2 extend vertically and are suitably secured to the front and rear margins of the outer and inner side walls 9 and IIJ. l

The platform I3 serves to support a typewriter T and is disposed between the inner side walls I0. It corresponds in shape to the opening I4 in the desk top 8 and embodies depending flanges I6 at the sides thereof. In addition to the flanges I6 the platform embodies a pair of parallel laterally spaced side plates I1. These plates together with a pair of bolts I8 and a pair of supporting brackets I 9 constitute a pivotal mount whereby the platform with the typewriter T thereon may be swung back and forth between an inoperative position wherein it is tilted rearwards and downwards and supports the typewriter wholly beneath the desk top, and an operative positionwherein it extends substantially horizontally and supports the typewriter so that it projects through and above `the opening I4 and is accessible for'use by the user of the desk. The platform I3 has on the top face thereof a baseboard 20. This baseboard is slidably mounted between a pair of flanged side strips 2l and con: stitutes a mound for the typewriter T. 'I'he .latter is held in fixed relation with the baseboard by way of a set of flanged retainers 22 which are fixed to the baseboard 29 and are shapedr to receive and interlock with the feet of the twpewriter. The strips 2| overlie the side margins of the baseboard 20 and are anchored.

to the platform I3 by bolts 23 which extend ythrough the flanges of the strips. The side plates I1 depend from, and are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the front portions of the flanges I6 at the side margins of the platform.

They serve to reinforce the platform and have,

aligned holes 24 in their lower front portions. The brackets I9 are located adjacent the inner faces of the inner side walls I9 of the desk and are vertically elongated asv shown in Figure 4. The lower ends of the brackets nt against the inner side walls I9 and are riveted or otherwise xedly secured thereto. The central portions of the brackets are angularly positioned with respect to the -lower and upper ends and are so arranged that the upper ends of the brackets are inwardly offset and are in spaced or opposed relation with lthe side plates I1. Thebolts I8 extend horizontally and fit within and project through the holes 24 in the side plates I1. The outer ends of the bolts fit within and extend through holes 25 in the inner side Wall I9 of the desk and the inner ends extend through and fit within holes 26 in the upper portions `of the brackets I9. The centralfportions of the bolts fit loosely within the holes 24 and hence the platform is free to tilt up and down. Rearward and downward tilting of the platform is limited or restricted by-a horizontally extending bar 21. Forward and upward tilting of the platform is restricted by a .bar 28. The bar 21. extends between, and is secured to, the rear portions of the lower-margins of the inner side walls AIII and` is so arranged or- 'positioned that the rear marginal portion of theplatform I3 strikes against it when Ithe platform is in its inoperative position (see Figure 4). The bar 23 extends horizontally and .is secured at the ends thereof to the upper ends of the two legs that are at the front margins of the inner side walls" I8. It is arranged so that the front margin of the platform strikes against it when with respect to the lower ends l the Aplatform is swung into its operative position, as shownin Figure y3 of the drawings. By reasonv of the fact that the bolt-s I8 are vdisposed beneath f positions two coil springs 29 are provided. These 4 springs are mounted on, 'and extend around, the central portions of the bolts I8 and are disposed between the side plates I1 and the upper portions ofthe brackets I9. The inner ends of the ysprings extend through longitudinal slots 30 in the bolts and hence are held or confined against rotation. The outer ends of the springs are bent at right angles to form anchor elements 3I and are adjustably connected to the front portion of the platform I3 by way of a pair of inverted L-shaped lugs 32. The upper legs of the lugs are welded or otherwise secured lto the bottom face of the platform I3 and are disposed above and slightlymforwards of the bolts I8. The other legs of the lugs extend downwards andare positioned vertically when the platform is in its op- .erative position. They extend at right angles to the upper legs and have longitudinally extending seriesiof slots 33. The anchor elements 3I at the outer ends of the -coil `springs 29 extend through certain of the slot 33 and are releasably secured in place by way of cotter pins 34. The latter extend through apertures 35 in the elements 3l. The springs are loaded or tensioned so that they exert on the platform a force tending to urge the platform into its operative posil tion. Preferably the springs are so loaded that the platform and typewriter are substantially balanced cerned and hence the platform and typewriter may readily be tilted downwards toits inoperative position or upwards into its operative position with a minimum amount of force or effort. Should it be desired to increase the load of the springs it is only necessary to move the anchor i, elements 3| into higher slots.33. In connection with such operation the cotterpins 34 are removed from the apertures 35 in the elements 3I and the elements-are withdrawn from the slots and then shifted into higher slots. To lessen the tension of the springs the anchor elements Aare inserted into lower slots in the lugs 32. vThe coil springs 29 constitute simple means for counteracting the tendency of the platform and the typewriter to swing into their inoperative position, and the anchor elements 3I and the slot equipped lugs 32 constitute simple and novel means for varying or adjusting the loading of the springs.

In order releasably to hold or lock the platform in its inoperative or operative position a latch mechanism 36 is provided. This mechanism is manually manipulable and-'comprises a pair of aligned but oppositely facing dogs 31, a shift rod 38. a disc 39 and a pair of links 49. k'I'he dogs 31 are located adjacent the rear corners of the platform I3 'and are carried by bearing blocks 4I on the bottom face of the platform so that they are slidable to and from the inner side walls III of the desk. The outer ends of the dogs extend through and fit slidably in holes 42v in the rear portions of the nges I6 along the side margins of the platform. The inner side walls I9 have lower holes 43 directly above the bar 21 and embody-upper holes 44 in the upper rear corners so far asr the pivotv bolts I8 are conasienta thereof. When the platform I3 is in its inoperative position the holes 43 are aligned or in registry with the holes 42 and are adapted to receive the dogs 31 when the latter are slid outwards. When the dogs are shifted into the holes 43 the platform is locked or retained in its inoperative position. The upper holes 44 are positioned so that they register with the holes 42 desired to expose the opening I4 in order to per-v mlt the platform I3 to be swung into its operative position the front sec-tion .5I of the coveris swung or folded over the rear section 50 and the two sections are then swung upwards into the v position shown in Figure 3. In such positionthe front section 5I rests on the top and formsa back brace for supporting the rear section 50 in a substantially vertical position. To close the opening I4 after swinging of the platform into its inoperative position-it is only necessary to two dogs and is connected to the central rear. y

. portion Aof the platform by a pivot bolt so that it` is rotatable.l The links 4II extend between and are pivotally connected to the inner ends of the dogs 31 and diametrically opposite portions of the disc 39 and are adapted when'the disc is rotated in one direction to retract` the dogs against the force of the compression springs 45. The shift rod 38 fits against the under face of the platform I3 and is disposed in parallel .relation with the inner side walls I0. It is connected to the platform for longitudinal sliding movement by way of a strip 41 and has its rear end pivotally Jconnected to the marginal portion of the disc 39. The front end of the rod is flattened and bent downwards at right angles to form a grip 48V. When the rod is shifted or slid longitudinally in one direction the disc 39 is so rotated as to retract the-dogs '31 and thus free Ithe platform for tilting movement. When the rod is released the springs 45 urge the dogs 31 outwards into their locking position and thus' return the disc and slide rod to their normal positions. When -it is desired to use the typewriter T the user of the desk grasps the grip 48 on the front end of the rod 38 and shifts the rod in the proper direction to effect release of the dogs 31. As soon as the dogs are released the platformis tilted forwards swing the two sections downwards and then swing the front section 5I into place.

A panel 54 is secured to the rear Acover section 50 so that it .is spaced a slight distance from the inner face of the section 50. 'I'his panel together with the rear cover section 50 defines a n compartment 55 in which papers or other items may be stored or retained. When the cover 49 is in its open position access may be readily had to this compartment.

The herein described desk consists of a small number of parts and hence may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. Due to the manner in which the typewriter supporting platform is supported there isa maximum amount of knee space or leg room under the platform regardless and .upwards into its operative position. `When i the platform reaches such position the user of the desk releases the grip 48 -with the result that the springs 45 slide the dogs outwards into interlocked relation with the holes 44. When the dogs are in such holes the platform is held or locked in place. The grip 48 is located adjacent the front under portion of the. platform I3 and hence is readily accessible in Yconnection with actuation or manipulation ofthe mechanism 36.

In addition tothe top 8, the outer and inner side walls 9 and I II, the back wall II and the various other parts heretofore described the desk comprises a cover 49 for closing the opening I4 and completing the top 8 when the platform with the typewriter is in its inoperative position. This cover 49 is formed of sheet metal and consists of a rear section 50 and a front section 5I. The rear section is adapted to cover or close the rear portion of the -opening I.4 and is connected to the portion of the top 8 that defines the rear end of the opening I4 by way of a hinge 52 in order that it may be swung upwards into an open -position, as shown in Figure 3. 'I'he front secof whether the platformis in its inoperative or operative position.' Because the mounting means for the platform includes coil springs 29 the platform together with the typewriter thereon may be readily tilted or swung vback and forth between its inoperative and operative positions.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I clainis as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A desk comprising a pair of laterally spaced side walls with inwardly and upwardly extending brackets on the inner-faces of the front upper portions thereof, a top disposed over and acrossV the 'side walls and having an opening therein over and communicating with the space between said side walls, a machine-supporting platform located in said space and having depending side pieces interposed between the upper portions of the brackets and said front upperportions of .the

side walls, pivot elements extending between andv through the side pieces and said upper portions tion 5I of the cover is adaptedto close the front j portion of the opening I4 and has its rear margin by way of a hinge 53 in order that it may be .swung relatively to the rear section. When it is connected to the front margin ofthe section 50 of the brackets for supporting the platform so that it is tiltable back and forth between an inoperative position wherein it is rearwardlyv and downwardly inclined and supports the machine beneath the top and an operative position wherein it is substantially horizontally positionedand supports the machine so that it projects through the opening and is accessible for use, and spiral springs undrtension positioned around the elements and between the brackets and the side pieces and arranged so that they urge the platform into its operative position.

2. A-desk comprising a pair of laterally spaced side walls with inwardly and upwardly extending brackets on the inner faces of the front upper portions thereof,la-top disposed over and across the side walls and having an opening therein over and communicating with the space between said side walls, a machine supporting platform located in said space and havingdepending side pieces interposed between the up-v per portions of the brackets and said front up- 4 per portions of the side walls, fixed or stationary pivot elements extending between and through the side pieces and said .upper portions of the brackets for supporting the platform so that it it tiltable back and forth between an inoperative posi-tion wherein it is rearwardly and downwardly inclined andsupports the machine beneath the top and an operative position wherein it is substantially horizontally positioned and supports the machine so' that it projects through the opening and is accessible for use, and spiral springs under tension for urging the platform into its operative position positioned around the elcments and between-the brackets and the side pieces and having the' inner ends thereof anchored to said elements and their outer ends connected to the platform in such manner that the tension of the springs may be adjusted.

3. A desk comprising a pair of laterally spaced side walls, a top disposed over and across the side wallsv and having an opening therein over and communicating with the space between said walls,

a machine supporting space and having the machine beneath the to'p and an operative po sition wherein it is substantially horizontally positioned and supports theI machine so that it' projects through the opening and is accessible for under tension for urging the platform into one of its positions disposed around one of the pivot elements and having its inner end anchored to said one pivot element and its outer end adjustably connected to the platform for tension adjusting 'purposes by way of a connection in the form of an attaching member on said outer end of the spring anda fixed lug on the under face of the platform with a series of slots therein for selectively receiving said memben l ALBERT BALST'ER.

platform located in said y stationary pivot elements be-y tween its sides and the side walls whereby it is*` supported so that it is tiltable back and forth be-` tween an inoperative position wherein it is rearwardlyand downwardly inclined and supports 

